Sign Of Lanty Tries for 16th Local Stakes Win

Sign Of Lanty will go for his 16th local stakes win when he takes on five challengers in the $26,600 Bull Raustus Handicap tonight.

Owned by Jackie and Rod MacPherson and trained by John Cooper, the remarkable 8-year-old gelding has won 26 of 61 overall. He will break from the outside in the 870-yard race and be ridden by Alex Bautista as he seeks his third win in his last five starts.

A Grade III, the Bull Raustus also lured Sterling Sport, who won the MCI California Distance Challenge in his most recent start and James Smith Memorial Handicap winner Butter Me Up CST. Gary Boag will ride Sterling Sport for trainer Dennis Ekins while Dennis Means has the call on Butter Me Up CST for trainer Felix Gonzalez.

The rest of the lineup includes Azure Classic Dash, Diamond Cut Diamond and Dashin With Johnny.

After this evening, Los Alamitos will be dark Thursday before racing resumes again Friday and continues through Sunday.

The picks: 1. Delusively. 2. Drivers Seat. 3. Chenilles Dasher. 4. Summers Secret. 5. Two For Special. 6. Bacbac Overthewall. 7. Apollo Dash. 8. Sign Of Lanty. 9. First Dance Dasher.

Four! Use Delusively and Blushing Blake in the first, Drivers Seat and Amok in the second, single Chenilles Dasher in the third and all in the fourth.

Shots in the dark: Two For Special is a firster in the fifth who gets a top rider (Eddie Garcia). Straw Fly Ta Fame is another rookie who won’t have to be much to challenge in the ninth.

Post time: 6:15 p.m.

On the Net: For entries and results from Los Alamitos, visit: www.latimes.com/horseracing/